Mattress assembling table



Apfi'ifi 28, 1936. f FLYNN MATTRESS ASSEMBLING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 13, 1933 April] 25%,, W35. J FLYNN 2,@39,15

MATTRESS ASSEMBLINGTABLE Filed Nov. 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 23 v as Patented Apr. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The principal object of this invention is to facilitate the work of assembling mattresses of the pneumatic felted type to enable the rapid placing of the tufting threads while obviating damage to the pneumatic element.

The principal feature of the invention resides in the novel construction of assembly table on which the felted layers are superimposed with a pneumatic element interposed therebetween and in the provision of a multiplicity of needles which are advanced simultaneously through the felted structure to place the tufting threads, means being provided for ensuring registration of the needle points with a multiplicity of tufting thread openings in the penumatic element to prevent injury to or puncturing of the same on placing the same in position.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view partly in section of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational part sectional view.

Figure 4 is a part sectional plan view of the table structure with the counter-balanced rack removed.

Figure 5 is a detail elevational View showing the manner in which the pneumatic element is guided into place and protected from contact with the needle points.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 on an enlarged scale showing the needles advanced through the felted structure and the tufting threads placed thereby.

In my prior Canadian Patent 331,944, granted April 25, 1933, I defined a mattress structure in which a pneumatic air bag was incorporated between heavy felted layers and the present invention aims to greatly simplify the construction of such a mattress and the work entailed in assembly thereof and in carrying this invention into effect I provide a table support A which may be of any desired rigid structure and size and here shown as comprising legs I having side and end rails 2 and diagonal brace members 3.

The legs I are provided with vertical guideways 4 on their inward side, and a light, movable frame B formed of rectangularly-disposed side and end members 5 and 6 respectively, is horizontally placed in the space between the legs and is provided with guide legs 1 at the corners which fit in vertical sliding movement in the guides 4 so that the frame B may be raised or lowered, suitable angle braces 1' being provided for the guide legs 1.

Threaded spindles 8 are rotatably mounted at each end vertically in bearing blocks 8 which are rigidly secured to the end cross members 2' intermediate of their length, suitable collars 8" being provided for preventing axial movement of 5 the spindles.

Threaded nut members 9 are secured to the end member 5 of the light frame B and are in threaded engagement with the spindles 8.

The lower ends of the spindles 8 carry bevel 10 gears Iii which mesh with bevel gears carried on a horizontal shaft I 2, which shaft extends 1ongitudinaily of the table and is supported at the ends in bearing blocks I3 mounted on the end rails 2, a hand wheel or crank l4 being provided 15 on the shaft l2 so that it may be turned to: effect the raising and lowering of the frame 13.

A plurality of slats I5 are adjustably secured at the ends to the end members 6 of the frame B, the latter members being slotted longitudinally 20 to adjustably receive the fastening bolts 6 so that the relative spacing of the slats may be altered.

A multiplicity of needle-holding plates ll are mounted in a predetermined arrangement on the slats 5 and in a relatively adjustable manner by means of the bolts H which extend through longitudinal slots I8 in the slats.

Extending upwardly from each of the plates I1 is a pair of needle members |9 spaced a desired 30 distance apart and formed with eyes at the upper end through which the tufting thread 20 is adapted to be threaded.

A second series of slats 2| extend longitudinally above the slats l5 and are suitably secured preferably in an adjustable manner at the ends to the upper end cross members 2" and form the upper table top of the structure, and as shown the slats 2| have a series of paired holes 22 therein which are adapted to register with the needles 20 when 40 the frame B is moved upwardly.

A cross member 6 extends transversely of the frame B below the needle-carrying slats 5 to brace the same against sagging.

In the utilization of this structure one of the 45 heavy felted layers C is first placed in position on the upper slats 2|, the frame B having first been lowered to retract the upper pointed ends of the needles |9 below the slats, the tufting threads 20 having first preferably been threaded 50 through the needles.

A pressure rack or frame A is suspended in any suitable manner for vertical movement toward or away from the slats 2|, this frame being here shown as supported by ropes 23 which pass 55 over pulleys 24 and are provided with counterbalance weights 25 to substantially offset the weight of the rack.

The rack A is provided with a series of slots or openings 26 which are adapted to register with the needle openings 22 in the slats 2| and when the felted layer C has been placed in the desired position on the slats, the rack A is lowered thereonto and suitably held so that it effectively holds the felted layer while the crank I4 is turned to raise the frame B so that the entire complement of needles IS with their tufting strings will pierce the felted layer C until the needles are brought to the position indicated in Figure 5, whereupon the counter-balanced rack A is raised out of the way.

I then place protecting members 20' on the pointed ends of the needles, such protecting members being preferably of cork or rubber, the upper ends of which may be of conical form, and when all the needles are thus protected the pneumatic element D is then placed over the felted layer C and the preformed tufting thread openings 21 thereof are brought into register with the conical protective members 20 and guided thereby so that the needles l9 will project through such openings.

When the pneumatic element D is thus placed the protective members 20 may then all be removed, whereupon the upper felted layer E is then placed over the pneumatic element D and the rack A lowered onto the layer E, while the crank I4 is again rotated to effect the penetration of the needles I9 through the upper felted layer, whereupon the rack A may then be raised and the protruding ends of the looped tufting threads 2| unthreaded from the needles and tied.

The frame B is then lowered to retract the needles from the felted structure which may then be removed from the assembly table.

The adjustability of the slats 2| and needleholding slats l5 and plates ll provides for the accommodation of various sizes and types of mattresses and additional needles may be applied or certain of the needles removed as may be desired.

The device is extremely simple but greatly facilitates the work involved in the assembly of the structure described and moreover, it will be seen that the sharp needles which are required to penetrate the felted structure will be protected in such a manner as to prevent the possibility of injury to the pneumatic element which if punctured would destroy the function expected of it.

Many alterations may be made however in the actual structure defined while still remaining within the scope of the invention and I may find it desirable in order to further expedite the placing of the protective members 20, to arrange the same first in a holding rack so that they will be placed simultaneously and the rack thereafter withdrawn.

What I claim as my invention is:-

1. Means to facilitate the assembly of pneumatic air bags in felted mattress structures comprising a table to receive said element formed with a multiplicity of tufting thread openings, means for advancing a multiplicity of tufting needles through the mattress-forming elements, and means adapted to be disposed over the points of the tufting needles during the placing of the pneumatic element to prevent injury to the latter and effect the guiding of the needles through tufting thread openings therein.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said protective guiding means comprise a multiplicity of corks or the like adapted to be pressed on to the points of the needles.

3. A method of assembling a pneumatic felted mattress comprising placing one of the felted layers in position, advancing a multiplicity of tufting needles therethrough, placing a plurality of protective members on the exposed points of said needles, placing a pneumatic air bag in position over the protected needles permitting the latter to extend through tufting openings in the pneumatic element, then removing the protective members from the needle points, then placing the second or upper felted layer over the pneumatic element and thereafter effecting the further advance of said needles to effect the penetration of said second felted layer.

ANDREW J. FLYNN. 

